Old Kentucky (sent) Home…. and

In a wild opening weekend that had much of America asking “what does the F stand for in Stephen F. Austin?” ….. A: “Fuller” ….. we saw the annual arrival (and subsequent departures) of 3-4 Davids. But….. when the original 64 had been whittled down to 16…. it is now pretty much Johnny Swofford’s ACC and a few Friends moving on….

Only Pittsburgh among The Swofford Seven failed to survive. Most folks forget “Pitt” is even in The ACC so who cares. If Louisville hadn’t done what Rick didn’t know they did, they would probably be there too…. but they did and they aren’t.

I was over on Franklin Street Thursday for lunch and to confirm that, yes indeed, it was unanimous among the locals that UNC was purposely placed in THE hardest bracket in The History of March Madness. Exactly “why” that was done was unclear but pretty much everyone I talked with was sure that it was indeed the case. FWIW…. this whining about “we was put in the toughest bracket” is an annual March occurrence on Franklin Street. Remember…. Roy said he is THE most persecuted / maligned coach EVER !!!

It was even suggested that “it” (being in that Most Difficult bracket EVER) should count as part of the “wrist slap” for supposedly doing “The Scheme”. FWIW…. it won’t (count).

Regardless, Royz Boyz (and all of Swofford’s guys but Pitt – see above) did manage to get thru Weekend One of March Madness with Two Ws…. and now head to The City of Brotherly Love to face Indiana….

Did ya know that UNC played Indiana in Philadelphia in 1981 in The Final Four in The Spectrum. That was the Isaiah Thomas Hoosiers and the Al Wood Tar Heels. Bob Knight bested Dean in that one.

Middle Tennessee has gone back to – one supposes – the “middle of Tennessee” – to savor their brief “shining moment” as a first-round Cinderella along with the afore-mentioned Stephen F’s and some geographical Iowa school and probably several others I’ve already forgotten. Does it take surviving the entire first weekend to be a “for real” Cinderella”? Who makes those rules?

….. Prominent among the “dones” of note are, of course, KENTUCKY and Izzo’s Spartans.

A Second Weekend Without Tom Izzo is like “a Masters without azaleas”. I thought it was “a rule” that Michigan State was always there? Being touted by some as THE Greatest Upset Ever because some people persist in declaring all sorts of stuff as “EVER” because they have no knowledge of history…. Michigan State being beaten by The Mighty Men of Murfreesboro was traumatic for those who can find East Lansing on a map. It’s east of West Lansing if that helps.

Murfreesboro Tennessee is indeed in the middle of Tennessee. Is Tennessee the only state with a “Middle ______” geographical school? It is the only one I can think of.

Which brings us to why Ashley Judd is a very very sad Ashley Judd ….. Her Vaunted ‘Cats were ousted. “One & Done” John ain’t paid $8,000,000 or whatever to “win one & be done” in March. ….. At least Cal was not outed by a Cinderella Whozit.

John, like his fellow SEC Mega Coach – Nick Saban – makes mega-bucks to Win Natty Championships. That’s IT! ….. not to “just do the best you can Coach. We’ll still love ya….”. No, they won’t (still love him).

“Cal” hasn’t done that (an NC) since Uni-Brow and that was a while ago. Close don’t count in the rarified air that John Calipari breathes. Whupping “a bunch of football schools” in January and February ain’t why John Calipari is John Calipari. He knows that and the Very Very Fat (Wild)Cats around U of K know that.

NOT a very good year for Kentucky-based basketball powerhouses. Rick had his ho’s and now Cal is “done”.

Did you know….. among The Sweet Sixteen Survivors there are Fourteen different states represented. Two states have two representatives each. Can you name those two states? One is easy.

Of those Sixteen, there is one Mentor / Protégé combo with Coach K and ND’s Mike Brey. Not Coach K and Johnny Dawkins who was “let go” at Stanford last week. I’m sure there are those forever tracking the respective “coaching trees” of Dean & K…. keeping careful records of the actives and inactives.

If Royz Boyz can get by The Hoosiers they then play either The Spurs, Phi Slamma Jamma or Auerbach’s Celtics with Russell and Cousy. YIKES…. maybe they ARE in “the Toughest Bracket EVER!

Just learned that Mid-American Christian University Evangels from Oklahoma won the 2016 NAIA national championship defeating Georgetown (Ky) in a buzzer beating 100-99 thriller last night. One for the directional schools, a Christian directional school for good measure. It’s a lot to digest for me but probably child’s play for a internet legend. ?http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=210826128

I heard from him yesterday. Did notify him that the question was asked.

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Doug

4 years ago

The Bluegrass weeps. Lexington’s Broadway, New Circle Road, Tate’s Creek, Winchester Road, Paris Pike, Versailles Road and all points beyond and in between are hard wired to expect National Championship banners. SEC banners are nice fillers but the banners from the bid dance are the true icing on the cake and this is not unique to the Calipari era. Rupp, Joe B Hall, Pitino, Tubby Smith, Eddie Sutton. Billy Gillespie, all have lived under that burden. CNR lived it and KNOWS. BTW it’s time for another history lesson from Coach. How in the world did Jeff Mullins escape from Lexington… Read more »

CowDog knows stuff. Jeff was born in Astoria, Queens. His dad was an executive at IBM, coming to Lexington in 1958 when they built the monster electric typewriter facility. It had been located a few miles up the Hudson. CD is correct, he played his final two prep years at Lafayette. No question he was no going to play at UK. New York turned out many great players, especially, the City, Capitol District and Western NY.

Jack Molinas played at Columbia with two good friends of mine as well against a prep teammate of mine from Yale. Often have wondered at what age his mind became corrupted. When we were together in Pittsburgh for the game, he spent no time with his teammates but mostly with some savory characters. Plenty of money was being bet on the game which I believe was the first national all-star game. Point shaving was rampant at the time. Perhaps he collected some tainted money for handing out some envelopes since we were surprised how easily we defeated them. We could… Read more »

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NCSU68Grad

4 years ago

Watched the Cinderella “Almost” victory. The Ugly Step Sisters were already in nooses and on the scaffold…. BUT, it seems that some clandestine force became involved (now, I WONDER…..was it Ref B. Dorsey of KH Klan?……probably NOT)….and it gradually took over. In all fairness, Sir Charles’ summary of it was correct. The blame does rest squarely on the N. Iowa Coach. Never, EVER, throw the ball UNDER YOUR BASKET or to a Coffin Corner (same goes for checkers….). Felt sorry for the team….and the coach. Texas A&M almost proved the Jimmy V. adage…..NEVER, EVER play a school that had modifier… Read more »

Thanks for the correction…..I get my play in teams with F as the first initial mixed up. BUT, I do recall that the score at the intermission was close….but ORW and the Fired Up Lads….did come out with a mission and vengeance..

Since neither of the BB persons of either sex are in post season drills, one can only watch and comment without much criticism….

Glad you are hale and hardy…..

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tarspartan

4 years ago

To be fair, that “geographical Iowa school” gave UNC its first loss this year, so beating Texas (which gave UNC its second loss) isn’t too surprising. The two states with two schools remaining are NC and Indiana, of course. Having two degrees from Michigan State (along with one from UNC), I can find East Lansing on a map. 😉